Listing a home can be a bit of a gamble, even at the best of times. Although the market is currently experiencing “seller’s market” conditions, you cannot take it for granted that you will sell your home quickly and for the right price. 

While there is no magic formula for success, some hard work and a general understanding of buyers’ needs will serve you well. For instance, buyers often like to picture themselves in any homes they are thinking of buying. And so it is your job to help them visualize life in your home.

To increase your chances of success, here are 5 must-dos when listing a home:

Stage the Home

The object is to flatter the property but not be too obvious about it. Also, keep in mind staging is different than simply decorating. 

Not every room need necessarily be staged, but the following are useful tips: clean everything until it is spotless; declutter anything that detracts from your home’s features; depersonalize by removing family photos, keepsakes, fridge art, clothes, etc.; define rooms by showing that each one has a purpose; strip wallpaper and paint with a neutral color; invest in hardwood floors; open all curtains and blinds when showing the home; make sure furniture is properly sized, even if it doesn’t come with the house; and fix cracks in the walls and ceilings. 

You might also want to freshen up by airing the house for at least ten minutes beforehand and adding a few healthy potted plants or scented candles to get rid of odors. Putting new, plush towels in the bathrooms wouldn’t hurt either.

Focus on Curb Appeal

Ideally, buyers will be wowed before they even step inside your property. A good first impression is key to success. It may even determine whether or not they will even want to view the interior of the house. 

First, you should keep your lawn, hedges, trees and other plants neatly pruned and free of any weeds. If you can, power wash the exterior, because it can make it look almost freshly painted. If the exterior still appears dingy, you will probably need to slap on a fresh coat of paint. You should also clear the sidewalks leading up to the house, and buy new doormats for all of the external doors. Washing the windows for the house makes a big difference for the appearance as well as the lighting. Consider adding flower boxes to brighten the windows up even more. 

Every feature of your home is a potential selling point. If you have a pool, showcase it by keeping the water crystal clear. You would also be well advised to create some sort of outdoor living space, such as a deck or patio with outdoor furniture. 

Hire a Professional Photographer

Hiring a professional photographer to take high quality photos or video of the property can make the difference between selling your home within several months and several weeks. According to a study conducted by Redfin, listings with pictures shot by professional photographers receive 61 percent more online views than their competitors. This leads to better first impressions, as 95 percent of online shoppers spend about 20 seconds looking at front exterior photos before moving on to the rest of the portfolio. As a result, they tend to sell 50 percent faster and for thousands of dollars over market value.

Your goal here is to trigger emotion. Beautiful pictures sell. Many buyers will admit that emotion is about 80 percent of the buying decision. Price ranges, locations and home sizes are important, but they will count for little if potential buyers do not immediately fall in love with your home. 

If you have gone through the step of hiring a professional real estate agent, it is only natural to hire a professional photographer. Because they do this for a living, they practice often and have a thorough knowledge of lighting, angles and compositions. Best of all, they save you precious time. 

Time House Photos

As previously stated above, you are not merely selling a home. You are selling a lifestyle. You need to show buyers what it looks and feels like to live in your house, especially at different times of the year. Time house photos to capture spring flowers, fall leaves and green summer grass. However, don’t have trees without leaves or bare patches of lawn in the photos. They should be bright, welcoming and warm. A buyer should want to step into them. 

Now, while seasonal photos are helpful, they should always be up to date. If your listing goes up in August, you should not have Christmas decorations, snow on the roof or a roaring fire in a fireplace. Likewise, an outdoor pool area complete with barbecue grill and lush green lawns would probably be out of place in January. In a way, these mistakes, however innocently done, imply fraud to potential buyers. Considering hundreds of thousands of dollars are at stake, trust is key. 

As such, you will need to update the photos from time to time to keep the listing fresh. 

Brag About Walkability

It cannot be stressed enough that you are selling a lifestyle as much as you are selling a home. Any realtor worth his or her salt will tell you that location is crucial. Even the most luxurious mansion would be practically worthless if it were spread out on a dreary, isolated landscape. That’s why we have some unique advantages as northern New Jersey residents: we have many scenic locales, but are never too far from New York City.

You and your realtor should list the positives of your home’s neighborhood and leave it where potential buyers can see it. In it, you should tout your home’s walkability, nearby businesses such as grocery stores and restaurants, parks and proximity to public transit. According to Redfin, each point on your walkability score can increase your home’s price by an average of $3,250. 

As has already been stated, there is no magic formula for success, but with over two decades of experience as a real estate agent, we have a good understanding of what works best for which properties. We would love to advise you in this complex and ever-changing market. Contact Jane Smith at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or email us.